Charlotte (#1) and Raleigh(#2) Top list of cities where demand for tech workers is greatest.

Based on job posting data over a 12-month period (August 2017-July 2018), CompTIA looked at 20 metropolitan areas with populations greater than 250,000, where demand for tech workers is greatest. The cities were then ranked based on cost of living, number of open IT positions, and projected job growth over the next 12 months and the next 5 years.

The result? A geographically diverse list that shows Tech Towns are flourishing across the nation and in areas that extend far beyond the traditional coastal tech hubs.

North Carolina was a major stand-out, with Charlotte earning the no. 1 spot and Raleigh just behind at no. 2. Southern hotbeds like Austin, Dallas, Atlanta and Huntsville, Alabama also made the top 10.